Bear wrestling promoter's bear caretaker mauled to death by bear

[marmar]

COLUMBIA STATION, Ohio — A bear fatally mauled its caretaker during a feeding on property holding dozens of other exotic pets owned by a man who drew the wrath of activists — and lost his license to exhibit — after offering people the chance to wrestle bears at a Cleveland expo.

The bear in the attack southwest of Cleveland was not one that owner Sam Mazzola had used for wrestling, officials said. His license to show animals had been revoked, but he apparently was still allowed to keep them on his property, which housed a menagerie including several bears, 20 wolves, tigers and lions.

A rescue squad took Mazzola to a hospital Thursday night with an unspecified medical problem that Lorain County Sheriff's Capt. James Drozdowski said was not from any injury. Mazzola, who had filed for bankruptcy this year, returned to his home around noon Friday and did not comment.

The 24-year-old caretaker, Brent Kandra, of Elyria, died Friday morning at MetroHealth Medical Center, the coroner's office in Cleveland said. He had been taken by medical helicopter after the Thursday evening attack in Columbia Township.

The bear was out of its cage for its feeding, "which was normal for this particular bear because the caretaker and the owner had been around it so much," Drozdowski said. Mazzola used a fire extinguisher to force the bear back into its cage. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20100820/US.Ohio.Bear.Attack/

[superduperfarleft]

1. .

[FiveGoodMen]

10. Subtle!

[marmar]

11. Dontchathink?

nt

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Seigfried or Roy could not be reached for comment.

[Beetwasher]

3. And They Said It Could Never Possibly Happen

[Lucian]

4. Didn't see that coming.

:sarcasm:

[joeybee12]

5. Sorry it was the caretaker and not the owner...n/t

[marmar]

6. Good catch....I adjusted the headline

[Merlot]

8. that was my first thought too.

caretaker was young, probably was told by owner it was safe to be around bear.

Bring the owner up on charges.

[derby378]

7. ...

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Too bad it was not the owner..and sadly the bear will be put down instead of the owner.